Glasgow Commonwealth Games organisers seeking 15,000 volunteers

By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN
Published on 05/11/2012 22:01

ORGANISERS of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games yesterday began the hunt for up to 15,000 volunteers to help the event run smoothly.

Organising committee chairman Lord Smith said the team behind the sporting spectacle was seeking a wide range of people to play a part in the Games after volunteers proved such an important part of the success of the London Olympics..

He said the experience of volunteering would stand younger people in good stead when it came to entering the jobs market, while everyone taking part would enjoy the “experience of a lifetime”.

Organisers yesterday opened a volunteer centre in the city, designed to allow people to find our more about the opportunities on offer. Those committed to volunteering will be able to apply online in mid-January, with interviews scheduled to take place in spring.

Speaking about the importance of the volunteers, Lord Smith said: “In London, they were the stars of the show. Their friendliness and efficiency

really helped to make the Olympic Games – and we need 15,000 here.

“You could be old or young, highly educated or not: we will train you. For the young people, we will be teaching them life skills which will help them in the future. For those who are older, they are going to have an experience of a lifetime.”

Organisers hope that as many as 50,000 people will register an interest in volunteering during the Games, which take place between 23 July and 3 August, 2014.

Ronnie McGowan, a retired maths teacher, is one Glaswegian hoping to volunteer in 2014, as he did for London 2012.

He was one of several would-be volunteers at Hampden after the volunteer centre was opened by Lord Smith with the help of Clyde, the Games mascot.